The pressure is on for Rick Perry to reverse his position and abandon his longtime refusal to consider a race for president. Conservative pundits have been begging the conservative Texan to enter the enthusiasm-challenged GOP presidential field.

Every interview, every press availability in the past week has included at least one question about a possible Perry presidential candidacy in 2012. Here are some recent highlights of comments by the governor that may shed some light on his evolving thinking.

Perry also had some harsh words for the federal government when asked about the law-enforcement measures the Legislature has passed.

“Unfortunately, we’re being forced into doing some things that, frankly, aren’t our responsibility, but the people of the state of Texas’ safety is always going to be paramount, whether it’s a piece of legislation like this one that we passed, or whether its making sure that southbound checkpoints that stop the flow of money and guns into Mexico that’s funding these drug cartels that are raising havoc, not just on the border of Texas, but all across this state and, for that matter, across this country,” Perry said.

Gov. Rick Perry (AP photo)

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Yahoo! News blogger Holly Bailey has this take on Perry’s attempt to side-step presidential rumors during a press conference earlier this week:

Rick Perry has repeatedly said he won’t run for president in 2012, but there are signs he might not stick to that pledge.

In a press conference Tuesday, the Texas governor notably declined to “rule out” a White House bid, amid calls from Rush Limbaugh and others that he should enter the 2012 race.

Meanwhile, his top strategist acknowledged to the Texas Tribune that Perry is, indeed, “thinking about” a bid for the GOP nomination—though he insisted his boss is far from actually entering the race.